New City Hall figures reveal further fall in Met’s local visibility

Newly released figures show the number of Londoners who believe the Met is providing a visible local policing presence continues to fall.

In January MayorWatch reported that the force’s own March 2014 survey showed that just 53% of respondents felt it offered a visible presence in their neighbourhood.

According to new figures released this week by Mayor Boris Johnson to London Assembly member Joanne McCartney, by September 2014 that number had fallen to 51%.

The September figure is 16 points down on a March 2011 score of 67%.

Mr Johnson’s figures also show there’s been a marked fall in the number who see officers patrolling on foot or bicycle in their local area.

In March 2011 56% said they saw officers patrol “at least daily/weekly”, this number fell to 35% in March 2013 and has remained at that level ever since.

The force is currently reviewing a 2013 decision to reduce the number of officers assigned to local Safer Neighbourhood Teams from one Sergeant, two PCs and three PCSOs to one dedicated PC and PCSO.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has previously told Assembly Members that the balance of the teams had “gone the wrong way”.

However he has warned that any increase in SNT officers could only be achieved by reassigning officers already working in boroughs, meaning there would be no overall increase in officer strength.

In a statement accompanying the figures, Mr Johnson the review “has identified visibility as an area for further consideration and makes recommendations for improvements” but insisted it “is what police do and how they do it that matters most to the public.”

Commenting on the figures Len Duvall, Labour’s leader at City Hall, said: “Despite Boris Johnson pledging to increase confidence in the police, the number of Londoners who say the police provide a visible presence in their area is actually falling.

“It shows that the Mayor’s police cuts are having a noticeable impact on our communities.

“Not only has the Mayor cut the number of police on our streets since 2010, he is set to leave a gaping hole in the Met budget when he stands down next year, leaving the next Mayor to sort out the mess.”